Hynes calls on Quinn to fire head of state EPA

August 23, 2009

Comptroller Dan Hynes asked Gov. Pat Quinn, his rival for the Democratic nomination for governor, to dump the director of the state's Environmental Protection Agency today in the wake of a Tribune investigation that showed political feuding delayed efforts to go after polluters.

Hynes used the investigation to try to draw Quinn closer to the scandal-tarnished tenure of his predecessor, disgraced and ousted Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Quinn ran as lieutenant governor twice with Blagojevich. Blagojevich also appointed Doug Scott, a former legislator and one-time mayor of Rockford, to head the EPA.

"Today's article reminds us all that the Blagojevich culture of politically-driven decisions still has a foothold in Pat Quinn's administration, and Illinois families are the clear victim," Hynes said in a statement. "I am calling on the governor immediately to dismiss Doug Scott."

Quinn appeared with Scott today at a bill-signing ceremony to enact legislation that would notify residents if their water is contaminated and impose tough penalties for polluters who lie to environmental officials. At the event, held prior to Hynes' announcement, Quinn defended the EPA chief.

"Doug's been a good friend of mine," Quinn said. "I worked with him as lieutenant governor and governor on this mission...to make sure that we have a healthful environment for every person in Illinois."

The Tribune investigation, appearing in today's editions, found that EPA violations referred to the attorney general's office dropped sharply after 2005--when serious feuding began between Blagojevich and Atty. Gen. Lisa Madigan--at one time considered to be the chief rival to a Blagojevich bid for a third term. The Tribune found the EPA had not sent a criminal case to the attorney general in two years.

Blagojevich never got the chance to seek a third term. He was arrested by federal agents in December and later indicted on federal corruption charges. Lawmakers removed him from office in January. Madigan has since announced her bid for re-election.

Scott previously acknowledged to the Tribune that "there were some issues between us and the attorney general, and that skewed those numbers." But Scott also said the agency addressed many environmental violations without having to seek formal enforcement action from Madigan's office.

At the bill-signing ceremony, which Madigan also attended, Scott said he "absolutely" doesn't believe politics got in the way of protecting the environment and the public. He said he could spend a long time talking about items that were "factually wrong" in the Tribune report.

But Hynes said he found it difficult to believe Quinn would tout Scott's service.

"The governor's inexplicable delay in removing Blagojevich appointees, from Director Scott to his budget team, prevents our state from moving forward," Hynes said in a statement. "Gov. Quinn likes to talk about making tough choices. This is not a tough choice--it's a no-brainer."